A09339:4658
A Golden Chain
A golden chain: or The description of theology containing the order of the causes of salvation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seen in the table annexed. Hereunto is adjoined the order which M. Theodore Beza used in comforting afflicted consciences.A golden chaine: or The description of theologie containing the order of the causes of saluation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seene in the table annexed. Hereunto is adioyned the order which M. Theodore Beza vsed in comforting afflicted consciences.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1600Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1600
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Abuses touching Confession are these. The first is, that they use a form of confession of their sins unto God, uttered in an unknown language, being therefore foolish and ridiculous, withal requiring the aide and intercession of dead men and such as be absent: whereas, there is but one Mediator between God and man the man Jesus Christ. The second is, that they in practise make confession of their sins not only to God but to the Saints departed: in that they make prayer to them, in which they ask their intercession for the pardon of their sins: and this is, not only to match them with God in seeing and knowing the heart, but also to give a part of his divine worship unto them. The third and principal abuse is, that they have corrupted Canonical confession by turning it into a private auricular confession: binding all men in conscience by a law made, to confess all their mortal sins, with all circumstances that change the kind of the sin (as far as possibly they can remember) once every year at the least, and that to a priest, unless it be in the case of extreme necessity. But in the word of God there is no warrant for this confession, nor in the writings of Orthodox antiquity for the space of many hundred years after Christ, as one of their own side avoucheth.1 And the commandment of the holy Ghost, Confess one for an other, and pray one for an other, Jam. 5.17. bindes as well the priest to make confession unto us, as any of us to the priest. And whereas it is said, Math. 3. that many were baptised confessing their sins: and Act. 19.18. Many that believed came and confessed and showed their works, the confession was voluntary and not constrained: it was also general and not particular of all and every sin, with the necessary circumstances thereof. And in this liberty of confession the Church remained 1200. years till the Council of Lateran; in which the law of auricular confession was first enacted: being a notable invention serving to discover the secrets of men, and to enrich that covetous and ambitious See, with the revenues of the world. It was not known to Augustine, when he said, What have I to do with men that they should hear my confessions, as though they should heal my diseases: nor to Chrysostom when he saith,2